C-met and E-cadherin Expression in Advanced Gastric Cancer

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: In the current study, the relation between the clinicopathological parameters and levels of the amplification of the c-met and E-cadherin genes were investigated in patients with an advanced gastric carcinoma. METHODS: The levels of amplification of the c-met and E-cadherin genes in 44 advanced gastric carcinoma patients were retrospectively investigated using RT-PCR. The relationships between the levels of amplification of these genes and the clinicopathological parameters were evaluated using univariate and multivariate analyses. RESULTS: Seventeen (38.6%) and 13 (29.5%) of the 44 advanced gastric carcinoma patients were evaluated as having amplification of the c-met gene and down-regulation of the E-cadherin gene, respectivly. The amplification of c- met gene was significantly correlated with serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis and neural invasion, whereas the down-regulation of the E-cadherin gene was significantly correlated with the diffuse type of gastric carcinoma by Lauren's calssification, and neural invasion. CONCLUSION: The levels of the c-met and E-cadherin gene amplifications may be a powerful aids in evaluating the metastatic potential and prognosis in patients with advanced gastric cancer.